Mr Long

Film description

A Taiwanese killer, cold like steel and efficient as a panther, goes to Japan to do a job. However, something goes wrong and badly wounded Long has to hide in a random ruined building. There he gets found by Jun, a little boy who unexpectedly becomes a link between the silent gangster and the unsuspecting local community. The child, despite being just a few years old, also carries a burden of difficult experiences: perhaps Long will be able to repay for the help he received?

A true emotional rollercoaster, this astonishing mixture of action film, family drama and culinary movie is a tour de force of the director highly appreciated for his style. SABU does not hesitate to match brutal fight scenes with deeply moving tenderness and elements of slapstick humour – and the effect is irresistible. The skilfully told story is lined with reflection on intercultural relations between Japan and its Asian neighbours, in which the best sign of friendly emotions turns out to be the food prepared with devotion and ceremony. Thanks to brilliantly composed frames and dynamic editing this perverse story about taming a predator will stay in your memory for long.

Jagoda Murczyńska